Introduction to the Study of Religion

Reflective journaling

A Journal is not quite the same as a diary:

• A journal need not be written in every day.
• A journal does not record so much what you do as what you think and how you feel about what you do, about your life experiences and encounters, about what happens to you.
• A journal is much more deeply reflective than a diary.

Why should you do this?

This is your opportunity to take what you are learning and truly make it your own, in your own unique way. This is your opportunity to modify other's ideas, develop your own, and otherwise expand on what is presented to you. You need not be afraid to be original here (in fact, most of what you write for this class should be more original than you likely think it should be): ask questions, critique presentations, seek your own answers.

Your journal will demonstrate the on-going process of learning through a personal processing of new ideas. Often the very act of writing or otherwise consciously and intentionally reflecting on new ideas will reveal deeper insights that would otherwise go untapped.

What should you do?

• Reflect on reading, Website explorations, class discussions, videos, and activities. This reflective, "stream-of-consciousness" writing should be done on at least a weekly basis (the most productive time to do this when you get home from class and the material is still fresh on your mind, as well as during or upon completion of reading). I will be especially looking for your response to some of the reading from Kessler (though you need not address this every week).
• If you don't know where to begin, consider addressing some of the questions at the end of each chapter in the text (you need not address them all - quality is more important than quantity). You might also care to address some of the questions posted on the class discussion board more privately, in your journal, rather than on the more public board (again, you need not address them all).
• Be sure to date each entry. You may organize your journal chronologically or thematically (i.e., you might discuss reading in one section, videos in another, Web explorations in a third section, etc. - but do still date each entry in each section).
• Journals may be hand written (legibly) or kept electronically. Written journals should be between one to three pages a week (I will take into account the size of the pages as well as your font size and spacing!). 
• You may be asked (and may certainly do so even if not asked) to submit your journal to your mentor periodically over the course of the semester. This way your mentor can comment and ask follow-up questions for your further reflection. (If you want your journal back as soon as possible, try to drop it off so I can read it during office hours and give it back to you at the next class session or leave it for you to pick up.)

Grading criteria:

• Quantity/content (50%):

• Have you maintained consistent, at least weekly, entries in your journal?
• Are your entries long enough to substantially reflect what you've been doing and thinking? (reading, Website explorations, class discussions, videos, activities, etc.)
• Have you addressed a representative variety of sources from which learning has taken place (both what you've done in class as well as outside of class)?

• Quality (50%): 

• Are you writing your thoughts, not just summarizing content?
• Depth of thought: originality, insight, development of personal viewpoints/philosophical ideas, etc.
• Have you reflected on any feedback offered by your mentor?

Sample of grading sheet (these are the things I'll be looking for, for each week, as I read your journals):

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